Vuelta a España 76th La Vuelta ciclista a España 2021 (August 14 - September 5)

[Salvarani]

On Bernal and Carapaz, I don't think they putting Bernal on the giro meant that much. Don't forget Bernal lived in Italy, speaks Italian very fluently, and in 2019 was scheduled to go to the Giro, so it may be Bernal's decision to go to the Giro.

I dont think it meant that much either.

The conversation most likely was that Carapaz perhaps was a safer bet for the Tour, the biggest race of the season, with how last season ended for them both and that there were still some question marks around Bernals back going into the season. Not send him to the Tour again after how it ended last year.

 

[Lievro]

Hi Guys!
For the first time i’m going to watch a Vuelta stage. Stage 7 that Goes to the top of Balcon d’Alicante. (And the start in Santa Pola the day after)

someone here who got The knowledge of the fan support in the vuelta (in covid times..)

are there restrictions?
Is it hard tot get to mountain tops?

thanks!

 

[CyclistAbi]

Is it hard tot get to mountain tops?

Not if you are Roglič.

 

[CyclistAbi]

As for dismissing Landa. That would be silly considering the team strength and what some individuals have shown this year. For now we can only assume Landa is the cherry on the top.

 

[CyclistAbi]

As for Bernal and the Giro selection. Bernal wanted to do Giro and the team managed this rather well. Bernal needed to reassemble himself as a person and as a genuine GT contender. Giro was better suited for achieving that compared to the Tour. Well played.

In addition they likely had a plan to send fresh Bernal to Vuelta to face Slovenian(s) that would have the Tour in their legs already. Roglič spoiling this a bit by crashing on Tour and Pogačar by winning the Tour and hence rather focusing on other non GT goals.

 

[Breh]

Hi Guys!
For the first time i’m going to watch a Vuelta stage. Stage 7 that Goes to the top of Balcon d’Alicante. (And the start in Santa Pola the day after)

someone here who got The knowledge of the fan support in the vuelta (in covid times..)

are there restrictions?
Is it hard tot get to mountain tops?

thanks!

I don't know how easy it will be to get up the climb but I don't think there'll be too many covid related restrictions.

Have fun and respect the riders!

 

[CyclistAbi]

There was a reception for Slovenian participants on Olympic games and at one point Roglič was presented with a small video he made. As he is in Spain already and couldn't participate live. At the end of the video he waved his hand and there it was. A bandage at the bottom of his palm.

 

[Sciatic]

Hi Guys!
For the first time i’m going to watch a Vuelta stage. Stage 7 that Goes to the top of Balcon d’Alicante. (And the start in Santa Pola the day after)

someone here who got The knowledge of the fan support in the vuelta (in covid times..)

are there restrictions?
Is it hard tot get to mountain tops?

thanks!

Good for you, that will be exciting. Never been to the Vuelta, but something common to all GTs is that when it’s a mountaintop or hilltop finish, they will close the road that morning, so you can’t count on being able to drive up and park along the climb unless you go the night before). That’s why you see a lot of folks who ride partway up to o get a good spot. Or park near the base of the climb and walk up. Have fun!

 

[ontheroad]

1. Bernal
2. Roglic
3. Padun

It looks like JV, Ineos & Bahrain have assembled the strongest teams so the first week will likely establish their team leaders. Roglic is the big favourite as he is the established team leader but we still don’t know how he has recovered from the Tour crashes. Yes, he won the TT in Tokyo but struggled slightly in the road race just days previously. Whether his body will standup to the rigours of 3 weeks hard racing, only time will tell. If it does then he is the one to beat.

Quite often the Vuelta is the least predictable of the GTs since there is no clear form guide leading into the race. This year looks no different really, it’s only after the first big mountain stage that the picture will become clearer.

 

[Big Doopie]

40k of ITT.

Ensures that it is irrelevant as a true GT.

Hope Hugh Carthy wins just so all those who think Hesjedal should never have won a GT may cringe again.

Otherwise Rog for the treble. At least he is a true all rounder unlike Bernal, Adam Yates, Aru, Landa, Bardet and basically everyone else. I mean Bardet FFS is ATROCIOUS at everything but climbing. None of these other “favorites” have to be able to do anything other than climb. So Rog, please save cycling from this mediocrity.

A Pidcock win might be nice, but fat chance with Bernal being prioritized.

Final wish is ANYONE but a Bahrain rider. ANYONE.

 

[staubsauger]

Currently Bardet is atrocious at everything but going downhill to be honest!

 

[SafeBet]

I mean Bardet FFS is ATROCIOUS at everything but climbing.

I would say Bardet is atrocious only in time trials. He's a very competent hilly rider (podium in LBL), he's one of the finest descenders in the peloton (just won a stage in Burgos thanks to it), good bike handler and can ride the dirt (second in Strade Bianche).

I'm not sure what your definition of an all arounder is but I'd say Bardet is a fairly complete bike rider. Yes, he's a terrible TTer and also not the best climber in the world, which explains why he never won a GT and probably never will.

 

[southwards]

Hope Hugh Carthy wins just so all those who think Hesjedal should never have won a GT may cringe again.
[...]. At least he is a true all rounder[...]

Hesjedal was also an allrounder. Not a great one at that, but he was better at TT than most of those.

 

[wheresmybrakes]

Not if you are Roglič.

And he isn't doing a MITT.

 

[Rackham]

There was a reception for Slovenian participants on Olympic games and at one point Roglič was presented with a small video he made. As he is in Spain already and couldn't participate live. At the end of the video he waved his hand and there it was. A bandage at the bottom of his palm.

Was it this bandage? i.e. this picture was posted last week (with a fan):

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

View: https://www.instagram.com/p/CSG3MTCoNBl/

 

[CyclistAbi]

The most plausible explanation is he got a blister from all the high five action!

 

[Nirvana]

I wonder if that will be enough to trigger the Extreme Weather Protocol or they are going to always use it only to avoid cold and rain because they are a shameless bunch of pussies...

 

[RedheadDane]

I suppose you could argue that riding in about 30 degrees Celsius isn't that extreme. For Spain...

 

[Nirvana]

I suppose you could argue that riding in about 30 degrees Celsius isn't that extreme. For Spain...

That are 850 hPa temperatures, not 2 meters ones.

Just for reference consider that the peak of the heat wave yesterday was over Sicily with around 28°C/29°C at 850 hPa and that resulted in 2 meters temperatures around 44°C/47°C in the inner areas, considering the 31°C/32°C forecasted and the fact that the Iberian Penninsula land mass is a lot bigger i won't be surprised to see someting up to 50°C on saturday.

 

[ice&fire]

There's an African heatwave hitting the Iberian peninsula today and lasting until next Sunday. Predicted maximum temperature for Burgos next Saturday is 36ºC. Those lucky b6stards from the North will be about 10ºC cooler than Córdoba or Sevilla.

 

[BigCoward]

I nust

I wonder if that will be enough to trigger the Extreme Weather Protocol or they are going to always use it only to avoid cold and rain because they are a shameless bunch of pussies...

I know right, imagine not wanting to cycle 200km a day in 30-40 degree heat.

 

[Red Rick]

I nust

I know right, imagine not wanting to cycle 200km a day in 30-40 degree heat.

There's a difference between unpleasant but doable for a pro athlete and dangerous/inhumane. I'd consider it the former if they stay under ~35 degrees for the most part.

 

[Pinot's goat]

40k of ITT.

Ensures that it is irrelevant as a true GT.

Hope Hugh Carthy wins just so all those who think Hesjedal should never have won a GT may cringe again.

Carthy is capable of very good ITTs, he finished 4th in 33.7km ITT last year at La Vuelta.

 

[sir fly]

No Chaves on the BikeExchange's start list.
Wonder if it's transfer-related or something else.
Could've targeted few stages.

 

[Big Doopie]

I'm not sure what your definition of an all arounder is but I'd say Bardet is a fairly complete bike rider. Yes, he's a terrible TTer…

I think you just answered your own question. ;-)

Doesn’t being a “terrible” TTer basically make you NOT an all-rounder. You cannot be an all-rounder and totally suck at one important element.

Then again it may be telling in today’s cycling that fans no longer consider being a strong TTer a pre-requisite for being an all-rounder.

And it used to be called the “race of truth”…

Btw, I grant you and everyone here who pointed out that Bardet does have more than one skill. I was exaggerating to make my point. I like Bardet as a rider. I simply hope that he never wins a GT because it had almost no ITT in it…